By ANGIE

MATUSZEWSKI

Information and

Assistance Specialist /

Long-Term Care

Specialist

Aging and Disability Resource Center of

Florence County

FLORENCE, Wis. — When is the last time you had a good laugh? Did you know that humor and laughter can play an important role in your physical, cognitive, and emotional health? Laughter almost immediately lifts our spirits and brightens our day, but its positive impact reaches far beyond that. Here are just a few of the benefits of incorporating humor and laughter into your daily life:

Emotional / mental health: Laughter is not a cure for anxiety and depression; however, it can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Laughter releases neurochemicals in our brain that result in feeling happier, improving overall mood and outlook on life.

Stress reduction: Long-term and extreme stress can lead to many mental and physical problems. Seniors are often at an increased risk of chronic stress due to life transitions and losing support networks as they age. Laughter can serve as a much-needed distraction from these stressors. Using humor can help you get through difficult situations, without letting them take over your well-being.

Memory: In older adults, the fear of experiencing memory loss is worrisome. Laughter is surprisingly a great way to help maintain cognitive health. Stress hormones, such as cortisol, have been shown to have negative impacts on memory. However, laughter combats and lowers these stress hormones and can improve short-term memory function.

Physical health: Laughter and humor have several positive effects on physical well-being and healing as well. Laughter decreases blood pressure, improves blood flow and circulation, increases muscle strength by engaging muscles and nerves, and boosts the immune system.

There are several ways you can incorporate more laughter into your daily life. Watching a funny sitcom or movie, spending time with friends and family, reminiscing about funny situations you have experienced, playing games, and doing the things you love to do are all ways you can include more laughter and joy into your daily life.

In addition to the benefits already discussed, laughing also strengthens your bond and connection with others. Laughing and smiling are contagious. It not only can improve your mood, but can also lift the spirits of those around you. Make sure to make the time to smile and laugh every day.

For information on aging or living with a disability, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County at 715-528-4890, or stop by the office.

The ADRC is in the lower level of the Florence County Courthouse, 501 Lake Ave. in Florence. The website is at www.florencecountywi.com and click on Aging and Disability Resource Center. ADRC of Florence County also has a Facebook page.